Higgins leads Islanders in win over Interlake | Prep football

Published 9:44 pm Friday, September 23, 2011

In his first start of the season, Brian Higgins helped lead Mercer Island in a win over Interlake on Firday evening. In the 41-7 rout over the Saints, Higgins earned his first touchdown points of the season during the first quarter.

Head coach Brett Ogata said Higgins got the start because senior Jeff Lindquist was a little banged up. Ogata said Higgins took all the reps during practice this week, and played a great game.

“Jeff was actually a little banged up and we really just wanted to let him rest a little bit and take it easy,” said Ogata. “Also Brian took all the reps this week, so he was more ready for the game than Jeff was.”

Ogata said one of the team’s biggest goals going into the game against the Saints was not letting down after last week’s big win over Juanita.

“We’ve concentrated on trying to get more execution offensively and defensively and that really came out tonight. The biggest thing after the win last week was not to have a letdown for our guys. I was really proud of them,” said the coach.

The Islanders defense shown from the first play of the game, when the defensive line held Interlake to no gains on their first possession. Taking over, Higgins passed for a touchdown with 6:39 left in the first quarter to make it a 7-0 game.

It was followed by a 6-yard field goal by kicker Alex Wood to make it 10-0 at the end of the first.

Going into the second quarter, Lindquist came in for a few plays, throwing to Phil Frazier with 9:03 on the clock to make it a 17-0 game. On the Islanders next possession Connor Bernal made a 75-yard touchdown run to increase Mercer Island’s lead to 24.

Ogata said the Islanders defense had a strong night, evident by the team’s ability to hold back Interlake all night. He said their major goal coming into the game was to slow Interlake’s Jordan Todd, one of the top running back’s in the conference.

“The defense really came out and were really ready to go. After practice I was really excited and Coach Keck did a great job getting them ready. They have probably the best running back in the league, No. 22 and our goal was really just to stop him and make someone else run the ball,” said Ogata.

After backtime, just under a minute into the quarter, Risley Lesko made his own touchdown run to increase the lead to 31-0. Higgins followed the play with a run into the endzone for 38 unanswered points on the board for Mercer Island.

In the fourth quarter Alex Wood made his second field goal of the night for 41 points.

Interlake ran the ball in with 9:24 on the clock, to score their first points of the night for a 41-7 final score.

The Islanders will host the reigning 3A state champions, Bellevue, Friday, Sept. 30.

“No we’ll be ready. It’s another game. It’s an important game, but obviously now they are all important. If we beat them or lose to them we’ll be fine,” said the coach.

Friday evening is youth football and little cheer night, honoring the younger players on Mercer Island.